Bruce was born at
Hammersmith in December 1979. He was educated at
Eton College, before matriculating to
Durham University. While studying at Durham, Bruce made his debut in
first-class cricket for
Durham UCCE against
Durham in 2001. He played first-class cricket for Durham UCCE until 2002, making six appearances. Bruce was signed by Hampshire ahead of the 2003 season, In his first season of
county cricket, he took 19 first-class wickets at an
average of 43.63. In 2004 and 2005, played four first-class matches in each season, The following season he featured in seven matches in the
Twenty20 Cup, His good form also carried over into one-day cricket, with Bruce taking 4 for 18 in Hampshire's 62 runs victory over
Gloucestershire in the
Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy. During the 2006 season, Bruce took 38 wickets from thirteen matches at an average of 29.18, In the
2007 County Championship, he made fourteen appearances, taking 39 wickets at an average of 30.74, claiming two five wicket hauls. Commenting after his retirement, then Hampshire team manager
Paul Terry noted that "in the right conditions, he has become one of the better English-born bowlers." while in one-day cricket he took 44 wickets at an average of 22.18 from thirty matches. In Twenty20 cricket, he took 15 wickets from twenty matches at an average of 26.06, with best figures of 3 for 20. ==References==